Old Hardware Building Removal Still Weeks Away

Contractors are expected to demolish the Old Sparta Hardware Store and clear the property in a matter of weeks.

Sparta Codes Officer Mike O’Neal said he spoke with owner Trey Bane Wednesday. He said the contractors Bane has lined up will be responsible for the lane closures and permits needed to clear the property. O’Neal said a request for a lane closure permit has been sent to T-DOT and work is expected to begin when T-DOT approves it.

“The plan will be, his contractor has a big job going, but Trey wants him to come get the building down all in one pile and get our city street opened back up,” O’Neal said. “And then, I told him we would be patient with him.”

O’Neal said he does not expect the process to take months, but it likely will take weeks. O’Neal said the timeline is in T-DOT’s hands. He said when construction begins, Bockman Way will likely be limited to one lane until the debris is cleared.

Church Street remains closed to traffic because of the debris. A back section of the former store began falling several weeks ago.